North Kent Community Services is preparing for the new school year. They hope to distribute 500 new backpacks with school supplies to children in grades K-12, whose families cannot afford to purchase them. They are asking you to help by donating new backpacks and school supplies by August 15. They said Backpacks are their greatest need; last year they purchased over 300 with donated funds and money from their budget. A donation of $5 will enable them to purchase a nice backpack wholesale. “Imagine how happy and successful you can make a child when they start the school year with a brand-new backpack and school supplies like everyone else,” they said.

Please consider donating the following new items:

Backpacks Rulers

Pens – black, blue, red Pencil boxes

2-pocket report folders Pencils – wood, mechanical

Crayons – 24 packs Washable markers

Glue sticks College-ruled notebooks

Scissors (blunt edge) Wide-ruled notebooks

Colored pencils 3-ring binders

Erasers Filler paper North Kent Community Services is open Monday-Thursday 8 a.m.-6 p.m. at 10075 Northland Drive, Rockford. For more information call 866-3478.